Gallery: Transformers

Vehicle pile-ups, pyrotechnics and other stunts associated with the filming of "Transformers 3" rattled the windows along Wacker Drive near Michigan Avenue in mid-July. Here, a stunt actor fires blanks during an action scene.

PHOTO CREDIT: Stephen J. Serio

Actors Shia LaBeouf, left, and Josh Duhamel on the Wacker Drive set. The third "Transformers" movie — with the added title "Dark of the Moon" — is set to be released sometime in 2011.

Wrecked cars, a destroyed fire truck and a demolished bus are all part of the scenery

An actor takes a break at an outdoor cafe on the sidelines of the set.

PHOTO CREDIT: Stephen J. Serio

Technicians set up a camera for a scene involving an overturned bus.

PHOTO CREDIT: Stephen J. Serio

Director Michael Bay, in white, talks an actor through a scene.

PHOTO CREDIT: Stephen J. Serio

An explosion rocks Wacker Drive, across the Chicago River from Trump Tower.

PHOTO CREDIT: Stephen J. Serio

Work on "Transformers 3" also takes place on Michigan Avenue north of the Chicago River, shutting down the Magnificent Mile from Wacker to Ontario Street during the weekend of July 17.

PHOTO CREDIT: Stephen J. Serio

Filmmakers capture an aerial stunt that lasts less than a minute from cameras mounted in several places, including the roof of Hotel 71 and on a helicopter.

PHOTO CREDIT: Stephen J. Serio

The set includes several cars made to look as if they are teetering on the Michigan Avenue bridge.

PHOTO CREDIT: Stephen J. Serio

Galab Bankov, an office coordinator with Magellan Development who lives downtown, came out at 7 a.m. on Saturday, July 17, to watch the filming. Mr. Bankov thinks the filming would have a positive impact on the city. "It is definitely something different."

PHOTO CREDIT: Stephen J. Serio

As "Transformers" filming takes place on the north end of the Michigan Avenue Bridge, Wacker Drive serves as a staging area for large props, including cars and buses.

PHOTO CREDIT: Stephen J. Serio

Spectators turn out at 6:30 a.m. on July 17 to catch a glimpse from the south end of the Michigan Avenue Bridge. The morning's shooting schedule includes skydivers descending over the Chicago River.

PHOTO CREDIT: Stephen J. Serio

Film school graduate and Chicago resident Nick Jamison does contract work for the film industry. He worked as an assistant location manager on the "Transformers" shoot.

PHOTO CREDIT: Stephen J. Serio

Assistant location manager Nick Jamison's friends and family traveled from Bloomington, Ind., to watch "Transformers" film during the July 17 weekend. Mr. Jamison greets Danielle Brady, 13, along with her father, Indiana state Rep. Dan Brady, in yellow shirt, and Mr. Jamison's mother, Kim Jamison, in white shirt.

PHOTO CREDIT: Stephen J. Serio

While "Transformers" takes place on Michigan Avenue between Wacker and Ontario on Saturday, July 17, Chicago River traffic continues to flow — including a Chicago Architecture Foundation cruise.

PHOTO CREDIT: Stephen J. Serio

Colleen Vittone, left, of Bozeman, Mont., and Jan Hruby of Seattle stopped in Chicago for the day on their way back from a college reunion in Michigan and came upon the movie set. "It's a great experience," says Ms. Vittone. "I am a second-grade teacher. I will bring my photos back home and show my students in a PowerPoint presentation. They have never seen anything like this. Most of them have never been out of Montana." Getting around downtown during the filming is easy, she adds. "There is a lot of security and people at every corner giving you directions."

Props and set pieces, stored on Wacker Drive until they were ready to be used in filming, are very popular with spectators able to get an up-close look.

PHOTO CREDIT: Stephen J. Serio

Filming sends some Chicago Transit Authority buses off their routes.

PHOTO CREDIT: Stephen J. Serio

Filming often involves hours of waiting for a few minutes or seconds of action. These early-morning spectators are waiting for a glimpse of the day's action: skydivers descending over the city and landing on a barge in the Chicago River and on Wacker Drive.

PHOTO CREDIT: Stephen J. Serio

At some points, crowds of spectators grow so large that Chicago Police officers have to bring in additional barricades to keep people safe along the north edge of Wacker Drive.

PHOTO CREDIT: Stephen J. Serio

Kim Jamison, whose son Nick (in background) works as an assistant location manager for the "Transformers 3" filming, looks up at the Trump Tower, anticipating a stunt performed by skydivers. She feels the shoot is good for Chicago's economy: "They spend money when they come into do this, and it's great for Chicago to share in some of the glamour of Hollywood."

PHOTO CREDIT: Stephen J. Serio

Skydivers jump from a helicopter and follow the Chicago River as they descend east of the Michigan Avenue Bridge to landing points on Wacker Drive and a river barge.

PHOTO CREDIT: Stephen J. Serio

The aerial stunt lasts less than a minute.

PHOTO CREDIT: Stephen J. Serio

Spectators waiting on Wacker Drive are treated to a perfect view of the morning's scheduled stunt: skydivers jumping from a helicopter to Wacker Drive and a river barge.

PHOTO CREDIT: Stephen J. Serio

A helicopter camera captures an aerial stunt.

PHOTO CREDIT: Stephen J. Serio

A skydiver lands on Wacker Drive at the end of a stunt. The maneuver was done three times

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